PRE-PURCHASE MARINE SURVEY & VALUATION

The purchase of a yacht or motor boat is can be the largest expense you will have outside buying a home. The pre-purchase survey is the most comprehensive type of survey available and is strongly advised when buying a used vessel. A pre-purchase survey will often be required by insurance companies and/or finance companies. Remember caveat emptor! If you buy a boat without a survey and subsequently defects come to light, you may not have legal rights to reclaim. There is, of course, a small initial outlay in terms of obtaining a survey report. However, both the delay and expense are likely to be justified by savings in the long run.

Sealutions surveys are governed by the code of practice of the International Institute of Marine Surveyors (IIMS). The IIMS code of practice sets out the areas that should be covered in a pre-purchase survey as follows:

These are the minimum areas covered in a pre-purchase survey. Sealutions Ltd goes beyond this and then delivers a user friendly report and are then happy to discuss findings with the purchaser.

Our reports are designed to provide a fair and honest opinion of the vessel and ensure that the purchaser buys with their eyes wide open.

Insurance Condition Surveys

From time to time insurance companies will require owners to submit a survey of their vessel so that they can understand the risk that they are insuring. Sealutions Ltd is qualified to carry out this type of insurance survey.

Remember to plan ahead for insurance surveys as there is nothing worse than launching your vessel for the season, only to find out that your insurance company requires an insurance survey prior to renewal. Planning ahead will avoid any additional costs.

Valuations

Sealutions Ltd is qualified to carry out inspections and valuations. Valuations are often requested by the Client to obtain insurance and/or finance or required by solicitors or financial institutions or required with regard to probate or other matters. Valuations require an inspection of the vessel, although it is not normally necessary for the vessel to be hauled ashore.

Hull condition surveys

Some clients, when buying a vessel or for their own piece of mind, only require a survey that covers the hull. Sealutions Ltd can carry out this type of survey. It is important to establish, prior to instruction, the exact extent of what will or will not be covered in the survey. A buyer should also check with their insurance company, and if relevant their finance company, that this type of survey will meet their needs.

osmosis Surveys

Osmosis – or “boat pox” in Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) is probably the most worrying thing for all owners of GRP vessels. Sealutions Ltd can carry out moisture surveys of GRP vessels to determine if a vessel has osmosis. If osmosis is found to be present then advice can be given on the best course of action.

Please note that inspection for osmosis is included in pre-purchase, insurance and hull condition surveys.

Oil or deisel analysis

Oil condition monitoring is all about gaining an insight into what is happening inside an engine or gearbox. Oil condition monitoring is not a new science; it has been in practice for over 30 years. Many boat owners use oil analysis to understand the internal condition of their engine without the costly expense of dismantling.

Through oil analysis it is possible to determine if anything untoward is going on, for example it is possible to identify common problems, such as engine wear or wear to cylinder heads and rings. The analysis will also determine if water or fuel is getting into the engine or if ‘sooting’ is occuring due to poor combustion. It will also determine if seals are starting to fail or if the engine is running too hot.

Diesel analysis will determine if the diesel in your tanks is suffering from diesel bug or other contaminants.

We utilise the services of a fully independent laboratory who provide a full report in a few days.

damage repair surveys

If your vessel is unlucky enough to suffer damage, then a damage repair survey will ascertain the full extent of the damage, which can often transmit to parts of the vessel other than that which is immediately obvious. A report will then be issued by Sealutions Ltd which will itemise the extent of the damage and remedial action.

Expert Witness

With a number of years experience in the marine environment our principal surveyor Colin Vinall DipMarSur (YS), AssocIIMS, RMS can act as an independent expert witness in Marine Surveying matters.

sea trials

When purchasing a vessel it is sensible to take the vessel out on a sea trial. Sealutions Ltd will undertake a sea trial with a purchaser, the owner or broker as necessary. The sea trial will enable items that cannot be checked whilst the vessel is ashore such as engine (s), navigational equipment etc.

Tonnage Surveys

In order to fully register a vessel with a shipping registry it is necessary to have a Tonnage Survey carried out. Sealutions Ltd will visit the vessel to take the appropriate measurements and then complete the necessary documentation.

Tonnage Surveys can be carried out for the following registries:

·         British Registry of Shipping Cardiff (Part 1 registration; tonnage measurement is not required for Part 3 or Small Ships Registry)

·         Isle of Mann Registry

·         British Virgin Islands Registry

·         The Cayman Islands Registry

·         The Gibraltar Registry

·         The Eire Registry (special circumstances apply)

·         The Guernsey Registry

·         The Jersey Registry

·         The Turks and Caicos Registry

Project Management

Owners will sometimes have large repairs or other work carried out on their vessels and do not have the time or knowledge to oversee them. Sealutions Ltd will use Project Management skills and their marine knowledge to ensure that the project meets its aims and is managed within timescales and budget.

Marine Consultation

Sealutions Ltd has extensive knowledge of the marine industry and is happy to work with clients on any marine related project.

Examples of recent work include assisting a client in selecting an appropriate yacht for a circumnavigation. Working with a television company in the making of a marine related programme. Checking performance issues on a new yacht following delivery from builders. 

Inspections for overseas clients

Sealutions Ltd has worked with a number of clients who do not wish to make a costly trip abroad to visit a vessel only to find out that when viewed it does not meet their requirements. We offer a service to visit the vessel, carry out an inspection, and take pictures. A short report with a large selection of pictures is then emailed to the client. The report will give an overall impression of the vessel to show as much detail as possible. The report will enable the client to make a decision, independent of the vendor and broker. The cost of this service can be offset against any pre-purchase survey carried out on the vessel.

yacht delivery and assistance

We employ qualified commercial Yachtmasters and can deliver your yacht or assist you in delivery of your yacht. We can also offer own boat tuition and help you in getting to grips with your new purchase. If you need any assistance in delivering or training on your yacht why not contact us to discuss your requirements.